In recent discussions surrounding the controversial issue of abortion, it’s evident that when Vice President Mike Pence speaks about “restoring the sanctity of life” within American law, he is not prioritizing the well-being of women. His fervent anti-abortion stance risks jeopardizing the health and safety of countless women in pursuit of eradicating their right to safe medical procedures.
During a recent address to the anti-abortion group, the Life Issues Institute, Pence expressed his satisfaction in proclaiming that “life is winning in America once again.” He lauded the strides made by the current administration to restrict legal abortion both domestically and internationally. He highlighted the reinstated Mexico City Policy, which cuts U.S. funding for organizations that provide abortion services globally, and he took pride in his tie-breaking vote to allow states to defund Planned Parenthood.
This raises an important question: how can those advocating for life simultaneously undermine access to essential healthcare for women? The term “pro-life” seems hollow when it blatantly disregards the health and emotional well-being of women, not only in the U.S. but worldwide.
The harsh reality is that criminalizing abortion does not eliminate the demand. Historical evidence shows that making abortion illegal simply drives women to seek unsafe alternatives. According to the Guttmacher Policy Review, in 1930, illegal abortions accounted for approximately 18% of all maternal deaths. Moving to the 1950s and 1960s, this tragic trend continued with an estimated 200,000 to 1.2 million illegal abortions performed, leading to 17% of maternal fatalities during those decades.
Moreover, women often faced severe complications from unsafe procedures, with wealthier individuals able to access safer, albeit still illegal, options. Should abortion be banned today, it’s likely that history would repeat itself, disproportionately affecting low-income and minority women.
Recent statistics indicate that over 650,000 women underwent abortions in 2014 alone. Does Pence genuinely believe that a ban would dissuade hundreds of thousands of women from making their own choices about their bodies? It’s clear that outlawing abortion would merely push women back into the shadows of risky, illegal procedures.
Let’s also consider the implications for women who might feel compelled to avoid illegal abortions due to the risks involved. Many children could be born into poverty or abusive situations, leading to a lifetime of hardship. Pence’s notion of “winning” overlooks the emotional toll and societal issues that arise from unwanted pregnancies. Adoption may seem like an option, but it carries its own emotional challenges and requires a woman to endure a full pregnancy, which can be traumatic—especially in cases of incest or rape. What about a woman’s mental health? Doesn’t that deserve consideration too?
Furthermore, when these babies arrive, what kind of healthcare will they receive? The Republican party recently attempted to leverage critical funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to push a partisan agenda. This blatant hypocrisy underscores a lack of commitment to the welfare of children and families. If Pence truly valued life, he would advocate for broader access to birth control and comprehensive sex education, which have been shown to reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortions.
Despite the abortion rate in the U.S. being the lowest since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, Pence and the anti-abortion movement seem determined to regress to a time when women risked their lives in unsafe “kitchen table” abortions. This is not a viable path to protect human life.
The evidence is irrefutable: prohibiting abortion can lead to the loss of women’s lives. Rather than “restoring the sanctity of life,” it would inflict physical and psychological harm on thousands of women. It’s time for Pence and his allies to recognize that women’s lives are equally sacred and should be treated with the respect they deserve.
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In summary, it is clear that making abortion illegal does not protect lives but endangers them. The focus should be on empowering women with choices that safeguard their health and well-being.